Inosine is a molecule (known as a nucleoside) that is formed when hypoxanthine is attached to a ribose ring (also known as a ribofuranose) via a β-N₉-glycosidic bond. This is a very common modified nucleoside found in tRNAs and is essential for proper translation of the genetic code in Wobble base pairs.

Inosine is a nucleic acid important for RNA editing. A (Adenine) is converted to I (Inosine), which pairs with G (Guanine).

Inosine is also an intermediate in a chain of purine nucleotides reactions required for muscle movements.

It was tried in the seventies in eastern countries for improving athletic performance, based in the fact that is an intermediate compound used in the muscle movements. Nevertheless the clinical trials with this purpose showed no improvement.

Nowadays, it has been shown that inosine has neuroprotective properties. It has been proposed for administration after in stroke, because it was observed that induces axonal rewiring It has been tried also for multiple sclerosis and is currently in phase II of the trials [http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00067327.

It produces uric acid after ingestion, which is a natural antioxidant and a peroxinitrite scavenger, which can explain the behaviour in multiple sclerosis has been correlated with the axons degeneration [http://www.fedem.org/revista/n17/neuhausing.htm).

Currently Boston Life Sciences holds the patent for treatment of stroke ^* and this company is currently investigating its properties for MS under the name axosine for Multiple Sclerosis.

See also

Nucleosides

Inosin | イノシン